Tracer control system

Abstract

In a system which performs tracer control by calculating the direction and the velocity of tracing through utilization of signals from a tracer head tracing the model surface, there are provided an input unit for entering data defining the tracing operation, a memory for storing the data and processor for reading out the data from the memory to control respective parts of a control device. data concerning clamp tracing is read out by the processor to change the clamp level by a predetermined value for each working, thereby performing repetitive clamp tracing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a tracer control system, and more particulary to a tracer control system which automatically changes the clamp level by a predetermined value for each working to perform clamp tracing continuously from rough to finish machining.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In clamp tracing according to a conventional tracer control system, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a limit switch LS is provided at the position of a certain depth D of a model MDL where clamp tracing is desired to effect (which position will hereinafter be referred to as a clamp level); when the limit switch LS is turned ON by the movement of the tracer head, a feed in the direction of depth of the model MDL is stopped and a stylus is moved horizontally without contacting the model MDL: and tracing is re-started from the position where the stylus moves into contact with the model MDL. Upon completing of one machining operation, the position of the limit switch is changed, for example, by a predetermined depth of cut ΔD to a position LS', where the same clamp tracing as mentioned above takes place. By repeating such operation, the configuration of the model MDL is finally traced down to its bottom. Thus, since the conventional system calls for the limit switch, the reliability of the tracing operation is relatively low because of the mechanical operation of the limit switch, and since the position of the limit switch must be changed for each working operation, it is difficult to continue working operations from rough to finish machining without a break and the working time is long as a whole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tracer control system in which data on the clamp level is prestored in a memory and clamp feed points are controlled in accordance with the data to enable continuous tracing from rough to finish machining, thereby reducing the machining time.

Briefly stated, in the tracer control system of the present invention, there are provided an input unit for entering data defining the tracing operation, a memory for storing the data and a processor for reading out the data from the memory to control respective parts of a control device. The processor reads out from the memory data concerning clamp profiling and controls the clamp level to change by a predetermined value for each machining operation, thereby permitting repetitive tracing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is explanatory of conventional clamp profiling;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is explanatory of an example of the tracing path; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart explanatory of the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a tracer control system of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference characters DG and IND respectively indicate a displacement calculation circuit and an indexing circuit which are supplied with displacement signals ε_x, ε_y and ε_z from a trace head TR; ARN and ART designate velocity control circuits; ADD identifies an adder; DC denotes a distribution circuit; COMP represents a comparator; GC shows an analog gate circuit; DRVX, DRVY and DRVZ refer to amplifiers; MX, MY and MZ indicate servo motors; PCX, PCY and PCZ designate position detectors; MDL identifies a model; ST denotes a stylus; CT represents a cutter; W shows a work; MAC refers to a tracing machine; CNTX, CNTY and CNTZ indicate reversible counters which count pulses from the position detectors to indicate the current position of the stylus; CLP designates a clamp feed command circuit; OPP identifies an operator panel; RS denotes a setting dial for velocity or the like; BT1 and BT2 represent push buttons; KB shows a keyboard; DSP refers to a display; DI indicates a data input unit; MEM designates a memory composed of a data memory part M1 and a control program part M2; DO identifies a data output unit; CPU denotes a processor; DA1 and DA2 represent D-A converters; and MAN shows a manual operation control circuit.

The stylus ST held in contact with the surface of the model MDL is fed by the servo motors and the displacement calculation circuit DG derives a composite displacement signal ε=.sqroot.ε_x² +ε_y² +ε_z² from displacement signals ε_x, ε_y and ε_z corresponding to the displacement of the stylus ST, and the indexing circuit IND provides direction-of-displacement signals sinθ and cosθ. The composite displacement signal ε is applied to the adder ADD to obtain a difference Δε between the composite signal ε and a deflection signal ε₀, which difference Δε is provided to the velocity control circuits ARN and ART to obtain a normal-direction velocity signal V_N and a tangential-direction velocity signal V_T. These signals V_N and V_T are applied to the distribution circuit DC to yield a velocity command signal in accordance with the direction-of-displacement signals sinθ and cosθ, and the velocity command signal thus obtained is supplied to the analog gate circuit GC. The velocity command signal is then provided to that one of the amplifiers DRVX, DRVY and DRVZ which is selected by the analog gate circuit GC. By the velocity command signal, the servo motor corresponding to the selected amplifier is driven to feed the cutter CT and the tracer head TR in ganged relation to each other. Since the operations described above are already well-known in the art, no detailed description will be given.

In the present embodiment, tracing operation data including data on the clamp level is entered from the keyboard KB or the like for storage in the memory MEM, from which the data is read out as the tracing operation proceeds, and in accordance with the data, the tracing path including the clamp level is controlled. That is, the present embodiment permits continuous machining operations from rough to finish machining by automatically changing the clamp level for each machining operation in accordance with the stored data concerning the clamp level, without involving such a manual operation as is needed in the prior art. As the input data, use can be made of such, for example, as shown in the following table.

TABLE 1
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ITEM                SYMBOL      CODE
______________________________________
Mode                (See Table 2)
A01
Deflection          ε0
A02
Approach Axes       X, Y, Z     A03
Direction of Approach
+, -        A04
Velocity of Approach
VAP    F1
Direction of Tracing
+, -        A05
Velocity of Tracing VTF    F2
Direction of Pick Feed
+, -
Velocity of Pick Feed
VPF    F3
Quantity of Pick Feed
P           A06
Tracing Turning Position
LP     X1
Tracing Turning Position
LN     X2
Tracing End Position
LTE    Y1
Automatic Return    ON, OFF     A07
Velocity of Automatic Return
VAR    F4
Automatic Return Position
LRP    Z1
Clamp Level Initial Position
CPL    C01
Clamp Level Variation
ΔCPL
C02
Clamp Level Final Position
CPLE   C03
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TABLE 2
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Mode                Sub-Mode
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1 Manual Tracing
2 Both-Ways Tracing 45° Tracing
3 One-Way Tracing
4 360 Deg. Tracing  Axial-Direction Pick
Z-Axis Pick
5 Partial Tracing
6 Three-Dimensional Tracing
7 Clamp tracing
______________________________________

Turning now to FIG. 3, the tracer control by the present invention will be described. In FIG. 3, the tracing turning points L_P and L_N are X1 and X2; the pick feed P is AO2; the tracing end position L_TE is Y1; the automatic return position L_RP is Z1; and the clamp level initial position C_PL is CO1; and the stylus ST is controlled by the data on the velocity and direction of tracing so that it approaches a point a from a starting point A and traces the model surface following a route [a-b-c- . . . u-v] to effect clamp tracing in the sections a to b, c to d, . . . t to u and then automatically returns from the tracing end position Y1 to the automatic return position Z1. In this case, the tracing operation is controlled following such a flowchart as depicted in FIG. 4.

Upon depression of an approach button (not shown), the processor CPU reads out data on the axis, direction and velocity of approach from the memory MEM and provides a signal via the data output unit DO to the analog gate circuit GC to activate the amplifier DRVZ, causing the servo motor MZ to lower the tracer head TR and the cutter CT. The velocity in this case can be determined by data F supplied via the data output unit DO to the D-A converter DA2.

Before the stylus ST is brought into contact with the model MDL, the displacement signals ε_x, ε_y and ε_z are zero, and accordingly the difference signal Δε remains to be equal to the deflection signal ε₀. When the composite displacement signal ε has become equal to the deflection signal ε₀ as a result of contacting of the stylus ST with the model MDL, the comparator COMP detects that Δε=0, and applies an approach end signal AE to the data input unit DI. The approach end signal AE is read out by the processor CPU to detect the completion of approach, and then tracing is started.

Upon start of tracing, the processor CPU reads out data such as mode, the deflection, the direction and velocity of tracing, starting tracer control. The deflection data is converted by the D-A converter DA1 into an analog deflection signal ε₀ for input to the adder ADD, and the servo motor MX is driven in a direction following the direction-of-tracing data. Further, the processor CPU reads out the clamp level initial position C_PL from the memory MEM and compares it with the content of the reversible counter CNTZ representing the current position of the stylus ST.

When it is detected by the comparison that the content of the reversible counter CNTZ and the clamp level initial position C_PL match with each other, the processor CPU sends out, by an interrupt operation, a start signal CL via the data output unit DO to the clamp feed command circuit CLP to start it and, at the same time, changes over the gate circuit GC to pass on a clamp feed command signal from the clamp feed command circuit CLP to a predetermined one of the servo motor. By this operation, the stylus ST does not trace but instead is moved in a horizontal direction, and clamp feed takes place at a predetermined level position.

During the clamp feed, since the displacement signals ε_x, ε_y and ε_z of the stylus ST are zero, the difference signal Δε remains equal to the deflection signal ε₀, but when the stylus ST gets into contact with the model MDL, the composite displacement signal ε becomes equal to the deflection signal ε₀, with the result that the difference signal Δε becomes zero. When detecting that Δε=0, the comparator COMP applies the approach end signal AE to the data input unit DI, and the processor CPU reads out this approach end signal AE to detect that the stylus ST has been brought into contact with the model MDL by the clamp feed. Then, the processor CPU stops the clamp feed command circuit CLP via the data output unit DO and changes over the gate circuit GC to stop the clamp feed, restoring the aforesaid tracing operation.

Further, the processor CPU reads out the tracing turning position L_P and L_N from the memory MEM and compares them with the content of the counter CNTX. For example, in tracing of direction "-", when the content of the reversible counter CNTX and the tracing turning position L_N match with each other, the axis is changed over the processor CPU reads out data such as the direction, velocity and quantity of pick feed P to control the pick feed. When the content of the reversible counter CNTY comes to be equal to the pick feed P from the start of the pick feed operation, the processor CPU causes the stylus ST to turn, that is, controls it to trace in the direction +. Further, the processor CPU checks whether the stylus ST has reached the tracing end position or not, and when detecting that the tracing end position L_TE is reached during the pick feed, the processor CPU reads out the data of the automatic return, the automatic return velocity and the automatic return position L_RP from the memory MEM. Since the automatic return is ON, the servo motor MZ is driven and when the content of the reversible counter CNTZ has come to indicate the automatic return position L_RP, one tracer control operation comes to an end.

In the event that repetitive tracing has been preset by the input from the keyboard KB, the processor CPU returns the stylus ST by known positioning control to the approach starting point A immediately following the automatic return operation, carrying out the clamp tracing again. In this case, the clamp level is C_PL +ΔC_PL which is the sum of the aforesaid clamp level position C_PL and a clamp level variation ΔC_PL prestored in the memory MEM in consideration of the cutting performance of the tool used. Since the repetitive clamp tracing can be effected by automatically changing the clamp level for each working operation as described above, it is possible to achieve machining operations continuously from rough to finish machining, thereby markedly reducing the machining time.

The tracing turning positions L_P and L_N, the tracing end position L_TE, the automatic return position L_RP, the pick feed P, the clamp level initial position C_PL, the clamp level variation ΔC_PL and the clamp level final position C_PLE may also be obtained by setting in the memory MEM the contents of the reversible counters when the stylus ST is shifted to its respective positions in a manual feed mode, instead of entering the data from the keyboard KB.

Also during the tracing operation the tracing path including the clamp level can be corrected by reloading the data in the memory MEM. For example, the data in the memory MEM are read out therefrom and displayed on the display DSP and the data are corrected and reloaded by the manipulation of the keyboard KB. Thus, the clamp tracing start position, i.e. the clamp level initial position C_PL, the clamp level variation ΔC_PL and the clamp level final position C_PLE can be corrected with ease.

In the foregoing embodiment, all data defining the tracing operation are prestored in a memory for controlling the tracing path including the clamp feed path, but in the present invention, all the data need not always be prestored; for example, the tracing turning position and the like may also be controlled by a limit switch as in the prior art.

As has been described above, the present invention permits repetitive clamp tracing by automatically changing the clamp level by a predetermined value for each working in accordance with prestored data on the clamp tracing and consequently machining operations can automatically be carried out continuously from rough to finish machine, resulting in the working time being greatly reduced.

It will be apparent that many modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

Claims

1. A tracer control system which performs tracer control with variable clamp level by calculating the direction and velocity of tracing through utilization of displacement signals from a tracer head tracing a model surface, said displacement signals being utilized along with a predetermined composite displacement signal for generating normal and tangential velocity components with respect to said model surface for determining said direction and velocity of tracing, said system comprising:

an input unit for entering data defining a series of tracing operations, said data including clamp feed data for limiting the motion of said tracer head on a first predetermined axis of said tracer control system to a respective clamp level for each said tracing operation, and said data including data that is identical for each said tracing operation of said series of tracing operations, said identical data selectively including common starting and end points, and feed limits for the two axes of said tracer control system other than said first axis;

a memory for storing the data received from the input unit;

a processor for selectively reading out the data from the memory and from said data input unit and for controlling each said tracing operation in correspondence therewith;

means for detecting the current position of the tracer head according to each said tracer control system axis and for providing data corresponding to said current position to said input unit;

a control device including a clamp feed for controlling said clamp level of each said tracing operation according to said clamp feed data to a respective predetermined value for each said tracing operation, and

means for switching between said tracing operation to said clamp feed and back to said tracing during each said tracing operation, depending on the value of said normal velocity component.

2. The system of claim 1, said clamp feed data comprising predetermined values for the initial and final clamp levels of said series of tracing operations.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, said clamp feed data comprising an initial predetermined value for the clamp level of the first tracing operation and at least one respective predetermined incremental value by which the clamp level of each successive tracing operation is changed from the preceding tracing operation.

4. The system of claim 1 or 2, said clamp feed data comprising a respective predetermined value for each said tracing operation.

5. The system of claim 3, said data being stored in said memory in digital form, and said means for detecting the current position of the tracer head including, for each of said axes of said system, a reversible counter for counting pulses and a pulse generator connected to provide said pulses to said counter in correspondence to preselected increments of motion along each respective axis, the output of each said counter being provided to said data input unit for said selective access by said processor.

6. The system of claim 4, said data being stored in said memory in digital form, and said means for detecting the current position of the tracer head including, for each of said axes of said system, a reversible counter for counting pulses and a pulse generator connected to provide said pulses to said counter in correspondence to preselected increments of motion along each respective axis, the output of each said counter being provided to said data input unit for said selective access by said processor.

7. The system of claim 3, said first predetermined axis of each said clamp level corresponding to the z-axis of said system, said feed limits for said other axis being defined by a clamp feed for each said tracing operation, so that each said tracing operation involves a series of reciprocating motions along predetermined limits of the x-axis and a series of pick feeds along the y-axis, until a limit value along said y-axis included in said stored data is reached, for each said tracing operation of said series between said start and end points.

8. The system of claim 4, said first predetermined axis of each said clamp level corresponding to the z-axis of said system, said feed limits for said other axis being defined by a clamp feed for each said tracing operation, so that each said tracing operation involves a series of reciprocating motions along predetermined limits of the x-axis and a series of pick feeds along the y-axis, until a limit value along said y-axis included in said stored data is reached, for each said tracing operation of said series between said start and end points.